Council Recap November 5, 2020

Happy Monday. Due to the election last Tuesday, the City Council meeting was moved to Thursday November 5th. Here is your recap.

Unfinished Business

A. Council finally approved the Nomination by the Mayor - Historic Preservation Commission Members. Nominations are below, and THANK YOU to everyone will to step up and serve their community!

1. 3 year terms to end November 30, 2023: Anita Bass, Theresa Hamby, Daniel Cook

2. 2 year terms to end November 30, 2022: Ryan Smith, Andrea Redmond

3. 1 year term to end November 30, 2021: Ralph Stowell, Elaine Vaughn

B. Council finally approved the Nomination by the Mayor - Planning Commission Members. Nominations are below, and again THANK YOU to everyone will to step up and serve their community!

1. 3 year terms to end November 30, 2023: Jelani Linder, Eileen Smith, Alex Brennan

2. 2 year terms to end November 30, 2022: Chancey Parker, Felicia Evans

New Business

A. COVID Relief Programming

1. Motion was approved for the Memorandum of Understanding between the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Georgia, Inc. and the City of Stone Mountain to administer our mortgage, rent, and utility assistance program. Council has approved an initial allocation of $150k to the program. Be on the look out for more information on how to apply for relief. The City was able to allocate these funds due to the CARES Act funding received in late September.

2. Discussion was had on a small business relief program. City Manager Thornton is having discussions with a 3rd party organization who would help the city administer the program.

B. Approval was given for the Administrative Proposal for Reorganization of Positions for the City of Stone Mountain Police Department and the associated classification plan. This reorganization plan would create a second lieutenant position and and additional sergeant position. The plan does not add additional staff but reclassifies the existing staff/positions.

C. Approval was given to begin the procurement process for the development of an interactive zoning map. This will allow the administration to develop the scope of work and put the project out to bid. Council will approve the winning bid and contract before implementation.

D. Approval was given for the City's Traffic Calming Plan. Formally, the plan was administered through an agreement with the County, now the plan will solely be administered by the City. The process will be very much the same and will include a petition of affected home owners.

E. Outstanding Stormwater Issues

1. Update on the ongoing issues were given.

2. Approval was given for the Survey, Construction Documents, Bid & Construction Administration with Clark Patterson Lee in the amount of $9,700 for the repair of a storm drainage yard inlet at Medlock Park. The project construction cost estimate is approximately $37,769.

F. Updates were given on the following Council Policy Discussion Topics, in subsequent meetings associated ordinances will be presented to Council for each of the following topics.

1. Graffiti - Defacement of Property

2. Alcohol Legislation Changes

3. Parking

G. Variance application was denied for 787 4th Street - request to deviate from Appendix A Zoning, Section 5-4.5(a) District Development Regulations. Denial was based on not meeting all of the provisions set forth in the Zoning Ordinance. See below:

Applications for variances shall adhere to the provisions as set forth in section 2.1-3 (procedure for amending the zoning ordinance). The mayor and city council shall authorize variances from the terms of this zoning ordinance only upon making all of the following findings:

1. There are extraordinary and exceptional conditions pertaining to the particular property in question because of its size, shape or topography;

2. The application of this zoning ordinance to the particular piece of property would create an unnecessary hardship;

3. Such conditions are peculiar to the particular piece of property involved;

4. Such conditions are not the result of any actions of the property owner; and

5. Relief, if granted, would not cause substantial detriment to the public good nor impair the purposes or intent of this zoning ordinance.

H. Official presentation was made by the City Manager to Mayor and Council of the proposed FY2021 Budget. A public hearing on the budget will be held on November 17, 2020 at 6:30 pm and Council is set to adopt the budget on December 1, 2020. Budget must be adopted by December 31, 2020. The budget proposal can be found here.

I. Approval was given for the Renewal of Property & Casualty Insurance 2020-2021 Policy Period - Pritchard and Jerden. This is for the City's property/casualty and workers compensation insurance and includes a 2% savings.

New Ordinances and Resolutions

A. Second Read and adoption of Ordinance 2020-11 - To Amend Chapter 28 Storm Water Utility.

B. Motion to table and remove Resolution 2020-21 - A Request to the Stone Mountain Memorial Association to Establish a Museum on the Atrocities of Slavery was approved. I made the recommendation that rather than a resolution whose language the Council could not find a consensus on and making a demand of the Park that we writ a letter requesting to be a part of the discussion and have a seat at the table as meaningful context is added to the theme of the Park.

C. Adoption of Revised Resolution 2020-23 - FY2020 Budget Resolution.

Committee Reports

Parks & Recreation Committee - approval was given to extend the deadline of the contract for the repavement of the tennis and basketball courts. The contractor requested the extension due to the upcoming cold weather. Work will be completed by the spring 2021.

Executive Session

Adjourned to executive session to discuss legal matters and potential litigation. No action was taken from the discussion.

Disclaimer: This City Council Recap is taken from my personal notes and memories of the meeting. For the official minutes of the meetings please visit the City web page.